Brands Hatch:
The Definitive History of Britains
Best-Loved Motor Racing CircuitKents
Brands Hatch
has a history that dates
back to 1926, when the
former mushroom field
was used by cyclists 
the first set of wheels
to use what was to
become an international
motor racing circuit...

HAVING HAD A PASSION FOR MOTORSPORT since his teens, Chas Parker has written
a book about one of the UK's Grand Prix venues Brands
Hatch: The Definitive History of Britain's Best-Loved Motor
Racing Circuit.

In his Foreword for the book, Bernie Ecclestone describes Brands Hatch as being
a bit special for him  at 15, Bernie began his racing career there in
motorbike scrambles meetings. Chas Parker also mentions fond memories of the
racing circuit in his introduction. Brands Hatch was only about an hour's drive
from his parents' home and, back in the Seventies, he spent many Sunday afternoons
standing at Druids hairpin with a group of friends, enjoying the racing.

Nestling in a natural valley in the Kent countryside, Brands Hatch is Britain's
best-loved racing circuit. The undulating track provides a real challenge for
drivers; and unrivalled viewing for spectators.

A Motorsport mecca, Brands Hatch was once the busiest Motorsport venue in the
world and has witnessed not only some of Britain's greatest Formula One and
sports car races, but also numerous other international, national and club events.

Brands Hatch: The Definitive History of Britain's Best-Loved Motor Racing
Circuit contains some wonderful historical photographs that include a cleverly-caught
action image of Belgian E Thomas at the 1949 Moto Cross des Nations and a neat
photograph of Graham Hill taking part in a charity go-kart race between the
British Racing
Drivers' Club and the Lord's Taverners in 1960.

Colour photographs include aerial shots of the circuit and the great images
that accompany exciting races  Hawaiian driver Danny Ongais driving a
Parnelli VPJ6B when USAC's Indycars visited the circuit in 1978 is among the
action shots; and also a moody image of Desiré Wilson in her red Wolf WR3. Desiré
became the first woman ever to win an F1 race when she drove to victory in the
Aurora event at Brands Hatch on 7 April, 1980.

Chas Parker extensively interviewed the people who worked, raced
and marshalled at Brands Hatch over the years. With an emphasis on the circuit
and the people who helped to make it one of the world's greatest motor racing
venues, Brands Hatch: The Definitive History of Britain's Best-Loved Motor
Racing Circuit benefits from engaging text that is complemented by glorious
archive photography.

Chas has detailed the breadth of racing that has taken place at the Kent circuit
 including the early off-road motorcycling events, club racing, the Formula
Ford and Formula 5000 racing that were both innovations of former Circuit Manager
John Webb, truck racing, rally-cross and (of course!) international Formula
One and sports car racing events.

The Brands Hatch story is a fascinating one, from the transition of the steeply-sloping
mushroom field, first used by cyclists in 1926, through its growth as a motorcycle
grass track and subsequent motor racing road course, to its heyday as a fully-fledged
international Grand Prix circuit. Changes of ownership and a period of decline
have been followed by the recent re-emergence of Brands Hatch as a majorsport
venue and its important place in the 21st Century.

With contributions from riders and drivers who include Sir Stirling Moss, Nigel
Mansell, John Surtees, Jody Scheckter and Johnny Herbert  and also the
people who operated and ran the circuit, from John Webb through Nicola Foulston
to current owner Jonathan Palmer  the story of each decade of the circuit's
history is told; not only the great races that have taken place on the track
but also the politics and the intrigue behind the scenes.

Brands Hatch: The Definitive History of Britain's Best-Loved Motor Racing
Circuit is a book I would definitely buy for myself. Brands Hatch is close
to my heart because it was one of the places I much enjoyed in my teens 
I recall a pale orange Mini racing at Brands Hatch back in the late Sixties
that I called the 'Smartie' Mini. Brands Hatch will continue to win friends
and inspire people as long as there are people to enjoy the thrill of the race.

Brands Hatch: The Definitive History
of Britain's Best-Loved Motor Racing Circuit by Chas Parker is out now in
hardback and is available from all good bookshops at an RRP of £30.00. Foreword
by Bernie Ecclestone. ISBN: 978 1 84425 334 0.

"I've always thought that Brands is one of those magical places and I think
that this comprehensive account, packed as it is with fascinating illustrations,
helps to capture some of that magic"  Bernie Ecclestone

Author Chris Parker began his working life in a different kind of field to the
one that Brands Hatch started off as  the field of astronomy, eventually
becoming press officer for the Royal Greenwich Observatory. He left the scientific
community to pursue a writing career, particularly in the field of motor sport,
for which he has had a passion since his teens. He has worked as a freelance
sub-editor and occasional contributor on publications such as Autosport and
Motorsport News for a number of years. He lives in Battle, East Sussex.